Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
This invention relates to a toe binding for
skis, and in particular, to a cross country ski bind-
ing,
The device of the present invention is
specifically designed to retain the toe portion of a
cross country ski boot or shoe (hereinafter referred
to simply as a boot), which is provided with a toe
piece for engaging the binding. Devices of this type
are described, for exarnple, in U~ S. Patents ~os.
2,991,086, issued to J. B. Woodward on July 4, 1961
2,994,543, issued to H. Hvam on August 1, 1961,
3,603,606, issued to N. Eie on September 7, 1971,
4,004,823, issued to E. D. Pyzel e~ al on January 25,
1977; 4,082,312, issued to Lo Bo Johnson on April 4,
1978; 4,129,319, issued to H. S-trohmeier on December 12,
1978, 4,146,247, issued to C~ Johansson et al on
March 27, 1979, 4,184,696, issued to R. JO Settembre
on January 22, 1980; and 4,219,216, issued to Ro J.
Settembre on August 26, 1980.
Most of the devices disclosed by the above-
mentioned patents are somewhat complicated, including
a large number of parts. Thus, the bindings are
believed to be unnecessarily susceptible to problems
due to wear, misalignment or damage to one or more
elements of the bindings. Others of the bindings
include exposed helical springs, which can readily
be clogged by snow and ice, making operation of the
binding difficult. In any event, as in many fields of
invention, it is the opinion of the present inven-~or
that there is definite room for improvement in the ski
binding art.
The object of the present invention is to
alleviate the difficulties and problems envisaged with
prior art bindings by providing a relatively simple,
easily operated toe binding for skiso
Accordingly, the present invention provides
a toe binding and boot combination for a ski ~ the boot
including a toe end and a longitudinal projection
extending Eorward of the toe end. The binding includes
a body adapted to be mounted on a ski. The body
includes a recess open to a first end adapted to
receive the longitudinal projection of the toe. A
pair of pivot members are mounted on one of the body
and the longitudinal projection and extends laterally
thereof. A pair of slots are adapted to receive the
pivot members and are defined in one or other of the
body and the longitudinal projection~ Means are
adapted to releasably entrap the pivot members within
theslots and thereby permit pivotal movement of the
boot relative to the body about an axis defined by
the pivot members.
In a more specific embodiment of the present
invention, a toe binding and boot combination is
provided for a cross country ski ~ in which the boot
includes a toe end and a longitudinal projection
extending forward of the toe end. A pair of laterally
~ - 2 -
extending pivot members extend one on either side ofthe longitudinal projection. The binding comprises a
body adapted to be mounted to a ski. The body
includes a recess open to a first end oE the body
and adapted to receive the longitudinal projection.
A pair of opposed laterally extending slots communicate
with the recess and are adapted to receive the pivot
members. Retalning means are slidably mounted on the
body between a first position closing the pair of
slots and adapted to entrap the pivot members within
the slots and a second position clear of the slots and
adapted to release said pivot members. Resilient
means are provided in the body urging the retaining
means to the first position, whereby the pivot members
of the boot are entrapped within the slots. The boot
may be pivoted through a limited arc about an axis
formed by the pivot members transverse to the longi-
tudinal axis of the boot.
In a still more speciEic embodiment of the
present invention, there is provided a toe binding
for use with a ski and a boot of the type including a
substantially T~shaped toe piece extending forwardly
from the toe end oE the boot, said binding comprising
a body for mounting on a ski, a substantially T-shaped
groove in said body for receiving said toe piece, pin
means slidable in said body for movement between a toe
piece retaining position and a toe piece release
position' leaf spring means connected to said body
~ 2a -
biasing said pin means toward said toe piece retainingposition' and handle means connected to said spring
means for moving said pin means from the toe piece
retaining position to the release position, whereby
the toe piece can be removed from the ski binding.
The invention will now be described in
greater detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of
the invention, and wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of
a portion of a cross country ski,
the toe end of a boot and a binding
in accordance w.ith the present
invention in the release or open
position'
Figure 2 is a partly sectioned, plan view of
the ski, boot and binding of Figure
1 in the boot retaining position, and
Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the ski,
boot and binding of Figures 1 and 2
in the boot retaining position.
With reference to the drawings, a toe binding
i.n accordance with the present invention which is
generally indicated at 1 is intended for holding toe
end 2 of a ski boot 3 on a ski ~. For such purpose,
the toe end 2 of the ski boot 3 is provided with a
forwardly extending, substantially T-shaped toe piece
generally indicated at 5. The toe piece 5 includes a
~ 2b -
flat metal shank 6, which defines the stem of the T, and
a transversely extending rod 7, which defines the t~p
arms of the T. The rod 7 is securely mounted in a loop
8 at the outer end of the shank 6. Inner end 9
(Figure 3) of the shank 6 is molded into the toe end
of sole 10 of the ski boot 3.
2c -
The toe binding 1 includes a generally rectangular body 11,
with a T-shaped groove 12 in the top, rear end thereof for receiving
the top piece 5. A rec-tangular recess 13 is provided behind the
groove 12 for receiving a scre~ 14 Eor fastening the body 11 on the
ski 4. Screws 15 are also used to connect the body 11 to the ski 4.
The body 11 is formed of hard plastic. A rectangular, metal plate
16 is interposed between the body 11 and the ski 4. The plate 16
extends rearwardly (towards the rear of the skl) beyond the rear end
oE the body 11. The rear end of the plate 16 is secured to the ski
4 by screws 17.
A steel leaf spring 18 is sandwiched between the body 11
and the plate 16. The spring 18 is generally L-shaped, arm 19 there-
of curving upwardly and rearwardly in the relaxed condition around
similarly curved Eront end 20 of the body 11. A hard plastic handle
21 is provided at the top of the arm 19 of the spring 18 for moving
the end 19 toward and away from the front end 20 of the body 11.
The handle 21 is generally V-shaped, with a large head 22 defining
one arm thereof and a deep notch 23 between the arms 22 and 24. A
groove 25 in the bottom of the head 22 receives the top end of the
arm 19 of the spring 18.
The top end of a lever 26 defined by a rectangular metal
plate is also securely mounted in the groove 25. The lever 26 is
sandwiched bet~een the arm 19 of the spring 18 and the front end 20
of the body 11. The handle 21 and the lever 26 extend across the
entire wiclth of the body 11. A pair of plns 27, which are the arms
of a generally U-shaped rod 28 are slidably mounted in the body 11
for movement between an extended, toe piece engaging position (Figs.
2 and 3) and a retracted, toe piece release position (Fig. 1).
Bight or end 29 of the rod 28 is located in front of the lever 26
and the arm 19 of the spring 18, the pins 27 extending through such
ever and spring.
In the relaxed condition of the binding, the free ends of
the pins 27 extend across the arms of the T-shaped groove 12 near
the top of such groove. In order to open the binding, pressure
(for example, using the tip of a ski pole) is applied to the handle
21 in the area of the bottom of the notch 23. The pressure causes
the lever 26 to pivot around its bottom edge, pushing the handle 21
and the arm 19 of the spring 18 outwardly away from the ~ront surface
20 of the body 11. Such movement o~ the handle 21, lever 26 and
spring 18 causes the pins 27 to retract from the extended position
(Figs 2 and 3) to the retracted position (Fig. 1). In such retrac-ted
position, the rod 7 of the toe piece 5 can be inserted into the
groove 12. The handle 21 is then released, and the spring 18 returns
the pins 27 to the closed, toe piece retaining position (Figs. 2
and 3). Of course, the toe piece is released by again applying suE-
ficient pressure to the handle 21 to release the pins 27.
The lever 26 merely facilitates bending of the spring 18,
i.e. movement of the front end 19 of the spring away from the front
end 20 of the body 11. It will be appreciated that while the lever
26 is preferably present in the binding, such lever can be omitted.
An important feature of the present invention is that the
binding is a so-called step-in type, i.e. it is merely necessary for
the skier to press the rod 7 of the toe piece 5 against the pins
27 to open the binding. It will be noted that the free ends of the
pins 27 are rounded. When the rod 7 is pressed against the pins
27, the pins are forced rearwardly against the bias of the spring
18, permitting entry of the rod 7 fully into the ~roove 12. As soon
as the rod 7 has passed the pins 27, the spring 18 returns the
pins to the toe piece retaining posi~ion (Figs. 2 and 3). The
toe piece is released by pressing downwardly on the handle 21.
-- 4
